Zoning board OKs final condition for controversial Butterfield gas station

A controversial proposed gas station on Butterfield Road near Glen Ellyn has received the final zoning approval it needs to proceed to the DuPage County Board's Development Committee in August.

Members of the county's Zoning Board of Appeals decided to recommend that the county board approve the development at its July 11 meeting, but first needed to review the final wording of a condition of the recommendation before moving forward.

Based on the finalized condition, county officials will evaluate developer Buchanan Energy's compliance with all permit conditions five years after the DuPage County Board's potential approval of the development.

The 1.5-acre development would sit at 22W030 Butterfield Road, west of the Butterfield Park District near Route 53. It would include a gas station, car wash and "Bucky's" convenience store.

Since zoning board members unanimously agreed with the wording of the condition during a July 18 meeting, the development committee will discuss the proposed plans for the property Aug. 6. Depending on that committee's decision, the issue may proceed to the DuPage County Board on Aug. 13.

The development's proposal has been met with opposition. At previous meetings, the public voiced concerns about traffic congestion, noise pollution, removal of green space and potential effects on the nearby park district.

Certain conditions would address some of these concerns, including the preservation of a 10-foot tree buffer along the development near the Butterfield Park District and the installation of an 8-foot fence between the properties.

At the zoning meeting July 11, park district Executive Director Larry Reiner said a petition against the development had reached more than 1,200 signatures.

Park district officials have said they will continue to address their concerns with the county's development committee.